40DAYTRIPS
44 The Brunswick News / Thursday, May 22, 2014
EXPLORE
Day Trips
Cumberland Island By GORDON JACKSON The Brunswick News
R
esidents have plenty to occupy themselves in the Golden Isles and surrounding counties, but when they are looking for a quick getaway for a day, there are a lot of choices. There’s Savannah to the north and Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Fla., to the south. Savannah and St. Augustine, two cities steeped in history, have plenty of places to keep visitors occupied for an entire day, regardless of their tastes. While Savannah is slightly closer, about 78 miles from Brunswick, St. Augustine, at 106 miles, is still within a reasonable drive on Interstate 95. Both cities boast large historic districts with shops, restaurants, live entertainment and other businesses designed to cater to tourists. Jacksonville, which is only 70 miles away, also offers family friendly-features. For those looking for a more sedate get-
away, a day trip to Cumberland Island National Seashore might be the perfect choice. When passengers disembark from the ferry at the Sea Camp Dock in St. Marys, they enter a world that feels a thousand miles away. They will walk on trails through wooded areas with live oaks so large the branches sag to the ground. Along the walk to the beach it’s very likely visitors will see a variety of wildlife from horses and turkeys to armadillos and feral hogs. During sea turtle nesting season, visitors walking along the beach may see crawl signs indicating where nests may have been laid. There are no concession stands or paved roads on the barrier island, which is virtually unspoiled. Bring a picnic basket, hat, sunscreen and plenty of water for the day. Camping is also available at the national seashore. About an hour’s drive from Brunswick on U.S. 82 is what may be the most famous swamp in the nation, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. The 402,000-acre refuge is home to a large number of endangered or
threatened species, including the red-cockaded woodpecker, American bald eagle and the wood stork. The American alligator, which is often seen sunning along the banks of lakes, rivers of canals in the swamp, was formerly listed as an endangered species, but its population has recovered to the point that it has been taken off the Endangered Species List. Camping is offered at Stephen C. Foster State Park, on the west side of the refuge, or on platforms in the swamp, accessible only by boat. A concessionaire offers boat tours at the Folkston entrance. Boat rentals are also available. Other areas where visitors can get back to nature are Tybee Island, Sapelo and Little St. Simons islands, all rich in history and nature. Those seeking an educational experience can visit the Museum of Science & History in Jacksonville. The museum features interactive displays such as The Body Within, where visitors enter through MOSH’s larger than life mouth, stroll down the digestive
tract and exit out of the more creative ways to teach visitors about the human body. Other displays include one on manatees, dolphins and whales, the Florida Naturalist Center, a planetarium, a display about energy and changing exhibits featuring museum artifacts. The Jacksonville Zoo features a 9,000square-foot aviary where birds such as the yellow-billed stork, white-bellied bustard, lesser flamingos and turacos fly about freely. Animal enclosures include cheetahs, lions, rhinos, elephants, birds, jaguars, giraffes, great apes, amphibians and others. Visitors can pet and feed stingrays at Stingray Bay and see other displays such as Monsoon Asia, Butterfly Hollow, Land of the Tiger, Australian Adventure and a play park and splash ground. For residents in the Golden Isles, there are always plenty of choices when it comes to finding an activity a short drive away. It’s simply a matter of choosing which one. See List Page 46